Rol over at Sunset over Slawit recently posted his own response to Empire Magazine’s Top 50 TV shows of all time. Never being one to let a good idea go unstolen I thought I’d have a crack at it myself.
It is usually customary with lists like this to point out that the process of choosing the top ten of anything is purely subjective. One man’s West Wing is another man’s America’s Next Top Model. However, I was recently gratified to learn that in a shock move the United Nations has formally appointed me the official arbiter of quality and merit. So if you disagree with my choices here then under international law you are just plain wrong. You are more than welcome to state your case in the comments section of course; but don’t be surprised if you find a squad of UN peacekeepers breaking down your door in the middle of the night.
Because I lean towards the wordy, and am keen to get as many posts out of the concept as possible, I’m going to split the list up into a few sections. So here, for your delight and delectation, are the fist two entries in my Top Ten TV Shows of All Time:
10: Quantum Leap
Quantum leap came along during a particularly difficult point in my childhood when I felt badly bullied and friendless. It provided me with a priceless feeling of escapism that I’ll always be thankful for.
But even if I didn’t have that emotional attachment to the show it would probably still make the list. Great acting and high production values combined with a premies that encouraged the writers to cast their nets widely means that Quantum Leap still stands up today. Sure it could be a little preachy at times, but that’s not always a bad thing.
Scott Bakula was good as Sam, but it was Dean Stockwell as Al that really shone. Such is my love for him that as soon as Stockwell turned up in Battlestar Galactica I found it hard not to start routing for the Cylons. The unseen presence of Ziggy the computer was also pretty cool, and I’ve often thought the sound it made as Al whacked it would make a rather nifty phone ringtone.
As is often the case with programs I like, my interest in it waned after two or three seasons. In fact I don’t think I’ve ever seen the fifth series, and pretty much missed the whole “evil leaper” plot arc. It saddens me thought that it all ended with the news that Sam never made it home, and I think for that reason I’ve avoided watching it. That is the danger with making emotional investments in fictional characters, sometimes the creators betray you (Oh Blue Beetle, I miss you so).
9: Batman: The Animated Series
With stunning film-noir like artwork and intelligent and daring storylines, Batman: The Animated Adventures paved the way for an entire stable of DC comics superhero cartoons.
The headline “Comics Aren’t Just for Kids Anymore” is a bit of a cliché in the geeky world, but these cartoons aren’t just for kids either. The writers, actors, and artists had a real commitment to quality that shines through in every frame.
Batman has always been my favorite of all the superheros, and The Animated Adventures stay true to everything I love about the character. The grim determination, the steadfast moral code, the outlandish villains and the strong supporting cast. But the show wasn’t afraid to mix it up a little bit. Villans were reinvented, continuity was tinkered with, and new characters were created (perhaps most significantly Harley Quinn).
I once had every single episode of the show on DVD, as well as a big pile of Animated Adventures comics. But I gave them away to a friend whose 12 year old son had a Batman fixation. I don’t regret my generosity, you have to pass these things on sometimes. His excitement at receiving them far outweighed my need to have them sitting in a corner somewhere. But I must admit sometimes I do get the odd craving for a bit of Dark Knight action. Fortunately I am keeping myself sated by making my way through the Teen Titans episodes on surfthechannel.com
Opening credits
Batman: The Animated Series Theme
Quantum Leap Theme
[Back to the cover]
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on Apr 10th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
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on Apr 10th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
But that could be just because I hate unhappy endings.
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on Apr 10th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
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on Apr 10th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
But.. I just can’t. I have to admit.
I LOVE QUANTUM LEAP!!!
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on Apr 10th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
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on Apr 10th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
apparently, one fan fiction response had Sam leap into Vincent’s (I think that was the beasty-dude’s name) body so he could change the series plotline and save his beloved…
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on Apr 10th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Although I COULD do X-Files. Well, Scully.
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on Apr 10th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Un peacekeepers..tsss yeah right and they would try and drag me to The Hague into the international court..don’t think so!
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on Apr 10th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
I’m a sucker for SciFi and super heroes though.
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on Apr 10th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
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on Apr 10th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Kapow!!
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on Apr 10th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Batman- The Joker! Makes the show for me!!
:)
Can’t wait for the rest!!
:P
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on Apr 12th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Rather sadly ( in a geeky sort of way ) during the opening credits myself and my girlfriend at the time used to pretend to ‘leap’ with Sam, which mainly consisted of standing in a star jump stylie and pulling a quizzical face…. oh how we laughed at the time :)
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on Apr 12th, 2008 at 8:56 am
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on Apr 12th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
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